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Captain Tyler Kapela

Tyler Kapela stands in the water holding a large silver fish, wearing a blue shirt, sunglasses, and a white hat, with rippling water surrounding them.Tyler Kapela stands in the water holding a large silver fish, wearing a blue shirt, sunglasses, and a white hat, with rippling water surrounding them.

Captain | Digital Creator

Captain Tyler Kapela is a highly respected professional fishing charter captain, television host, and conservation advocate based in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area of Florida. Widely regarded as one of Florida’s top tarpon, inshore, and nearshore experts, Captain Tyler has run charters through his business, "Hit and Run" Fishing Charters , for more than 17 years.  

Media & Television Career

  • TV Show Host: He has hosted multiple major national outdoor series, including North American Fisherman Television on the NBC Sports Network and Discovering Water on the Discovery Channel   
  • Digital Content: Kapela documents his extreme angling adventures, international travels, and technical tips on his YouTube channel Waterman's Way  
  • Industry Sponsorships: Besides proudly representing Melton Tackle, he serves as a Pro Team Captain for Pelagic Gear and is sponsored by premium brands like BKK Hooks, Yamaha, Cast Fishing, Contender Boats, and Shimano.  
  • Master of Ceremonies: Since 2021, Tyler has also served as the MC for all of Pelagic Gear’s offshore tournaments in their tournament series, including the annual Pelagic Rockstar in Quepos, Costa Rica, and the Pelagic Triple Crown in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. 
Tyler Kapela holds a large fish with a metal lure attached while sitting on a boat over clear turquoise water beneath a cloudy sky.Tyler Kapela holds a large fish with a metal lure attached while sitting on a boat over clear turquoise water beneath a cloudy sky.
Tyler Kapela holds a large fish with a soft plastic lure in its mouth while sitting on a boat over open water beneath a partly cloudy sky.Tyler Kapela holds a large fish with a soft plastic lure in its mouth while sitting on a boat over open water beneath a partly cloudy sky.

Fishing Achievements & Expertise

  • Tarpon Specialization: He is often regarded locally as a top expert for catching large "Silver King" tarpon, and he caught and released an unofficial Florida state record tarpon in May 2022.  
  • Global Angler: While rooted in Tampa Bay, he has fished on 5 of 7 continents, with an emphasis on topwater fishing, targeting everything from bluefin tuna in Southern California to GTs on the Great Barrier Reef.  
  • Educational Background: Kapela holds a degree in environmental and marine science, which informs his technical approach and deep understanding of fish migratory patterns, ecosystem ecology and tides. 

Conservation & Advocacy

  • Clean Water Initiatives: He is a prominent voice for the organization Captains for Clean Water, advocating against toxic red tides, restoring the flow of the Everglades, and promoting environmental protection for Florida's waterways. Through his advocacy, he was nominated for the Costa Del Mar "Steward of the Year" award.  
  • Catch & Release Ethics: Kapela strictly promotes proper fish handling and fishing etiquette, emphasizing minimized handling times to lower fish mortality rates, and respect for fisheries.  

Captain Tyler’s recommended setups

Tarpon:

Flats:

Popping:

Tyler Kapela holds a large fish with a soft plastic lure in its mouth while sitting barefoot on the bow of a boat over calm turquoise water beneath a clear blue sky.Tyler Kapela holds a large fish with a soft plastic lure in its mouth while sitting barefoot on the bow of a boat over calm turquoise water beneath a clear blue sky.
Tyler Kapela holds a large tuna on a sportfishing boat, wearing gloves, sunglasses, and fishing gear, with fishing rods and open ocean beneath a partly cloudy sky.Tyler Kapela holds a large tuna on a sportfishing boat, wearing gloves, sunglasses, and fishing gear, with fishing rods and open ocean beneath a partly cloudy sky.